A system and method for tracking a person is presented. A system includes an electronic device to be carried by a person that is used to notify one or more remote users that the person is to begin a journey from a starting point to a remote point. The electronic device can detect that the person has not moved for a predetermined time period a predetermined distance. When this happens, the electronic device sends non-movement messages to the one or more remote users informing them that the person has not move for a predetermined time period a predetermined distance. The electronic device provides a warning message that the non-movement messages will be sent and sends them if there was no response to the warning message.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method comprising: receiving a selection of one or more people to notify that a person intends to travel a route; where the selection is based on the person's personal preference; receiving via user input contact information for an electronic device for the one or more selected people into a portable device to be carried by the person when travelling the route; sending a start message to the electronic device of the selected one or more people that the person is beginning to travel the route; detecting via the portable device carried by the person that the person has not moved at least a predetermined distance along the route for a predetermined time interval; initiating a countdown timer on the portable device when the portable device detects that the person has not moved the distance along the route for the predetermined time interval; providing the person an option to disable the countdown timer from the portable device; sending a non-movement message to the selected one or more people that the person has not moved the predetermined distance in the predetermined time interval when the person fails to disable the countdown timer, wherein the non-movement message includes a marker on a map associated with the location of the portable device so as to be viewable on the electronic device for the one or more selected people, and wherein the route is traced on the map to identify the route the person actually traveled and not a predicted route and sending the actual route to the one or more selected people.
A method for emergency contact management involves a portable device carried by a person traveling a route. The user selects one or more people to be notified of their journey based on personal preference and inputs their contact information into the portable device. When the person starts the route, a start message is sent to the selected contacts' devices. The portable device detects if the person hasn't moved a predetermined distance along the route within a predetermined time. If no movement is detected, a countdown timer begins, giving the person a chance to disable it. If the timer expires, a non-movement message is sent to the selected contacts. This message includes a map showing the person's location and the actual route they've traveled, not a predicted route.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: detecting that an elevation of the portable device has abruptly changed; and sending a change of elevation message to the selected one or more people that the portable device has had an abruptly elevation change.
The emergency contact management method as described above also detects sudden changes in the portable device's elevation. If an abrupt elevation change is detected, a message is sent to the selected contacts notifying them of this event. This could indicate a fall or other emergency situation.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising: detecting that a direction of the portable device has abruptly changed; and sending a change of direction message to the selected one or more people that the person has abruptly changed the direction.
The emergency contact management method as described above also detects sudden changes in the portable device's direction. If an abrupt direction change is detected, a message is sent to the selected contacts notifying them of this event. This could indicate a sudden turn or unexpected event.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising: detecting that the portable device is moving but has not moved the predetermined distance that is greater than zero and up to about 50 feet in the predetermined time interval; and sending the not moved a predetermined distance message to the selected one or more people that the person has not moved the predetermined distance.
The emergency contact management method as described above also detects movement that is less than a threshold distance, greater than zero but up to about 50 feet, within the predetermined time interval. If the person moves, but not beyond the defined short distance within the defined time, a message is sent to the selected contacts notifying them that the person hasn't moved the predetermined distance. This detects a situation where someone might be incapacitated but still moving slightly.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising: detecting that the person is about to begin the route; and wherein the sending the start message is responsive to the detecting that the person is about to begin the route.
In the emergency contact management method as described above, the start message to the selected contacts is sent when the portable device detects that the person is about to begin the route. The system anticipates the start of the journey and proactively sends the initial notification.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising: tracking the portable device after sending the non-movement message to the selected one or more people is sent.
In the emergency contact management method as described above, after sending the non-movement message to the selected contacts, the portable device continues to track the person's location. This allows for ongoing monitoring and facilitates potential rescue efforts.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the method is performed in the portable device carried by the person.
The emergency contact management method as described above is performed within the portable device carried by the person. All the detection, message sending, and tracking functionalities are embedded within the device itself.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising: receiving a voice command at the portable device carried by the person; and controlling the portable device carried by the person based on the voice command.
In the emergency contact management method where all functions are performed on the portable device, the device also accepts voice commands from the person. The portable device can be controlled using voice input.
9. The method of claim 1 further comprising: sending the non-movement message to the selected one or more people at least partially over a wireless network.
In the emergency contact management method as described above, the non-movement message is sent to the selected contacts, at least partially, over a wireless network. The message relies on cellular or other wireless connectivity for transmission.
10. The method of claim 1 further comprising: prompting on a display with graphics asking the person to input the one or more people to be notified that the person is to begin the route.
In the emergency contact management method as described above, a display prompts the user to input the contacts they want to be notified about their route. The device provides a graphical interface to select emergency contacts.
11. The method of claim 1 further comprising: setting length of time to travel the route; and sending the route not complete message when the route is not completed when the length of time has been exceeded.
The emergency contact management method as described above also allows the user to set an expected travel time for the route. If the route is not completed within the specified time, a "route not complete" message is sent to the selected contacts.
12. The method of claim 1 further comprising: notifying the person that the non-movement message will be sent unless the person cancels the non-movement messages within a predetermined cancel messages time.
In the emergency contact management method as described above, before sending the non-movement message, the person is notified that the message will be sent unless they cancel it within a specific timeframe. This provides a warning before the emergency message is dispatched.
13. The method as defined in claim 12 , further comprising: starting a countdown timer on the portable device once the notification is sent.
As part of the emergency contact management method where the user is warned before a non-movement message is sent, a countdown timer is started on the portable device once the notification is displayed. This gives a visual indication of the time remaining to cancel the alert.
14. The method of claim 1 further comprising: displaying emergency medical information about the person on the electronic device of the selected one or more people when the person carrying the portable device has not moved the at least the predetermined distance along the route in the predetermined time interval.
In the emergency contact management method as described above, if the person hasn't moved the predetermined distance in the predetermined time, the emergency medical information about the person is displayed on the selected contacts' electronic devices. This provides crucial medical details to responders.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the emergency medical information further comprises: at least one of a group of: blood type, emergency contacts, allergies to medicines and an internet link to medical information.
In the emergency contact management method where emergency medical information is displayed, the information includes at least one of the following: blood type, emergency contacts, allergies to medications, or a link to online medical information.
16. The method of claim 1 further comprising: sending to the selected one or more people a pointer to the map of the route that the person is going to travel.
As part of the emergency contact management method, the portable device sends a link or pointer to a map of the planned route to the selected emergency contacts before the journey begins. This allows the contacts to visualize the intended path.
17. The method of claim 1 further comprising: displaying one of emergency information and a link to medical information on a screen of an electronic device of the selected one or more people.
In the emergency contact management method, either emergency medical information or a link to medical information about the person is displayed on the screen of the electronic devices belonging to the selected emergency contacts.
18. A portable device for tracking the person along the selected route in accordance with the method set out in claim 1 , wherein the portable device is: an electronic portable device that is worn or carried by the person and further comprises; communications logic to notify the selected one or more people that the person is beginning a journey along the route; a detector to determine if the electronic portable device has at least one of: not moved the predetermined distance within a time window, movement has abruptly altered, and elevation of the device has abruptly changed; notification logic to send the message to the selected one or more people upon the detector determining the electronic portable device has at least one of: said not moved the predetermined distance within the time window, said movement has abruptly altered, a force of impact of the electronic device and the elevation of the device has abruptly changed.
A portable device for tracking a person along a route has communication logic to notify selected contacts of the journey's start. It includes a detector that determines if the device hasn't moved a set distance in a time window, if movement has abruptly changed, or if the device's elevation has changed abruptly. Notification logic sends a message to the selected contacts if any of these events are detected. The device is worn or carried by the person.
19. The system device of claim 18 further comprising: tracking logic adapted to track the person during the journey.
The portable tracking device from the description above also includes tracking logic that is adapted to track the location of the person during the journey.
20. The device of claim 18 wherein the predetermined time interval is 15 minutes or less and the predetermined distance is within a radius of 50 feet or less.
In the portable tracking device described above, the predetermined time interval for detecting non-movement is 15 minutes or less, and the predetermined distance is within a radius of 50 feet or less.
21. The method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising: sending the map identifying the person's stationary location when the non-movement message is sent.
As part of the emergency contact management method, the map showing the person's stationary location is included in the non-movement message that is sent to the selected contacts.
22. The method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising: tracing the movement of the portable device along the route on the map.
This method enables a person carrying a portable device to manage emergency contacts during travel along a defined route. The user first selects specific people, based on personal preference, and inputs their electronic device contact information into the portable device. When the journey commences, the portable device sends a "start message" to these selected contacts. The portable device continuously monitors the person's movement. If it detects that the person has not moved at least a predetermined distance along the route for a predetermined time, it initiates a countdown timer. The person is given an option to disable this timer directly from the portable device. If the person fails to disable the timer, the device sends a "non-movement message" to the selected contacts. This message includes a map displaying the portable device's current location with a marker. Throughout the journey, the portable device continuously **traces the actual movement of the person along the route on this map**, providing a visual record of the path taken. This traced, actual route is sent to the selected contacts, allowing them to view the person's journey and current stationary location. ERROR (embedding): Error: Failed to save embedding: Could not find the 'embedding' column of 'patent_claims' in the schema cache
23. A method of tracking a person along a route to be traveled, said method comprising: receiving a selection of one or more people to notify that the person intends to travel the route; where the selection of the one or more people is based on the person's personal preference; receiving via user input contact information for the one or more selected people into a portable device to be carried or worn by the person when travelling the route; sending a start message to the selected one or more people that the person is beginning to travel the route; detecting via the portable device that the person is experiencing a personal emergency and requires assistance; wherein the detection includes determining that the portable device has not traveled a predetermined distance along a section of the route in a predetermined time; initiating a countdown timer on the portable device when the portable device detects that the person has not moved the predetermined distance along the route for the predetermined time interval; providing the person an option to disable the countdown timer from the portable device; and sending a message from the portable device to the selected one or more people that the person requires assistance when the person fails to disable the countdown timer, wherein the message includes a marker on a map associated with the location of the portable device so as to be viewable on the electronic device for the one or more selected people, and wherein the route is traced on the map to identify the route the person actually traveled and not a predicted route and sending the actual route to the one or more selected people.
A method for tracking a person along a route involves selecting one or more people to notify based on personal preference and inputting their contact information into a portable device worn by the person. A start message is sent to the selected contacts when the person begins traveling. The device detects if the person is experiencing a personal emergency requiring assistance by determining if the device hasn't traveled a predetermined distance in a predetermined time. A countdown timer begins and the person can disable it. If not disabled, a message indicating the person requires assistance is sent to the selected contacts, including a map showing the person's location and the actual route traveled.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
June 2, 2014
July 4, 2017
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